Brad Clement and the Norse travel to Kenosha, Wis., to take on Wisconsin-Parkside.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team returns to the road this weekend for a four-game series against Wisconsin-Parkside at Oberbruner Field in Kenosha, Wis.
The two teams will take the field for doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. The first pitch for both days is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Live stats will be available for this weekend's action at nkunorse.com.
NKU enters the weekend 28-14 overall, 21-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference after dropping two games against Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon. The Norse are now in second place behind the Greyhounds in the GLVC East Division.
Wisconsin-Parkside is now 16-25 overall, 9-19 in the GLVC. The Rangers took three out of four contests from Kentucky Wesleyan last weekend.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: The first NCAA Division II regional rankings saw the Norse as the No. 3 team in the Midwest Region, the NCAA announced on Wednesday. Grand Valley State holds the top position, while Indianapolis follows in second.
LAST TIME AGAINST WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE: The Norse hold a 37-20 advantage in the all-time series against the Rangers after sweeping a four-game series last season at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
NKU cruised to a 12-0 win in the first game and later posted a 9-5 victory in the nightcap on April 29.
Brian Erie was 4-for-4 and scored three runs in the opener to lead NKU.
Brad Clement and
Bryan Rose each hit home runs for the Norse, who scored in every inning.
Dave Middendorf and Rose led the Norse to a 2-1 victory in Game 1 and a 3-2 win in the second game on Senior Day to complete the sweep. Middendorf pitched a complete game in the opener and only allowed one run on four hits, while Rose broke a 2-all tie in the bottom of the eighth in Game 2 with a run-scoring single to seal the victory.
WILLIAMS COMING THROUGH: In the past four games,
Pat Williams has gone 9-for-14 at the plate for the Norse. On Sunday, Williams finished 5-for-7 with three runs and an RBI as NKU split a doubleheader with Saint Joseph's in Rensselaer, Ind.
Williams collected four hits, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base on Tuesday as the Norse dropped a pair of games to Indianapolis at home.
Williams is currently third on the team with a .340 batting average. He has accumulated 18 runs, 21 RBIs and five doubles.
CONSISTENT CLEMENT: Brad Clement added four hits, including a double and a triple, to his season totals on Tuesday against Indianapolis. He went 2-for-3 in the opening game with a run scored and a double to lead NKU, while he finished 2-for-4 in the nightcap with a run and a triple.
Clement's .352 batting average and 36 RBIs leads the Norse offense. He has also collected four triples, which is second-best in the GLVC, and seven doubles.
NASTOLD STAYS SOLID: Mike Nastold (2-0) continues to provide a strong start for the Norse pitching staff. He has only allowed four earned runs on nine hits in five appearances. In 16 1/3 innings on the mound, Nastold has collected 19 strikeouts. He leads the team with a .161 opposing batting average.
